Kieffer Bellows netted his first two goals of the season early in the third period, sparking a comeback that lifted the New York Islanders to a 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. The win extended the Islanders’ winning streak to eight games.
Oliver Wahlstrom also scored, and Semyon Varlamov made 26 saves as the East-leading Islanders pushed their point streak to 11 games, going 10-0-1 during that span.
This winning streak is the longest for the Islanders since they won 10 consecutive games last season. The franchise record, set in early 1982, is 15 games.
Pavel Zacha and Janne Kuokkanen scored for the Devils, who have now lost 10 straight home games. Mackenzie Blackwood also made 26 saves for New Jersey.
Islanders coach Barry Trotz, who elevated Bellows to the top line after Anders Lee was sidelined indefinitely with a leg injury, praised Bellows for his development in the AHL with Bridgeport.
“Kieffer was handed the ball at the start of the year and did OK, but then we started rolling a little bit, and he had to sit,” Trotz said. “He’s trying to make a statement; he sees an opportunity and seizes it for one game. Let’s see if he can do it again. But I was impressed.”
Bellows tied the game at 2-2 just 1:59 into the third period, converting a pass from Mathew Barzal and firing a shot past Blackwood from between the circles.
In his first NHL game since February 18th and only his ninth of the season, Bellows put the Islanders ahead at 5:10 of the third. He received a pass from Jordan Eberle at center ice, made a strong move from the right circle, and beat Blackwood up close.
“Obviously, scoring one gives you confidence to go out there and make more plays, and you know it gives you confidence to score more,” said Bellows, the son of former NHL player Brian Bellows. “But without Ebs and Barzie on both those plays, I wouldn’t have scored either.”
Zacha gave the Devils an early lead in the first period, but Wahlstrom evened the score later with a powerful shot on a rush.
Kuokkanen briefly restored New Jersey’s lead at 1:04 of the second period, diving to tap a rebound into an open net. He now has goals in three straight games.
Veteran Travis Zajac emphasized the importance of staying focused despite the team’s recent struggles.
“It does no good looking at the standings or being worried about what other teams are doing or where we are,” said Zajac, who assisted on Kuokkanen’s goal. “It’s a waste of energy. Our energy is going to be spent on trying to win one game and go from there and break it down to even smaller things—win your shift, win a period, and play the right way.”
DOWN A REFEREE
Referee Justin St. Pierre sustained an upper-body injury during a collision in the first period and did not return for the final 40 minutes. Referee Pierre Lambert officiated the remainder of the game with linesmen Vaughan Rody and Libor Suchanek.
CAPTAINS OUT
Islanders captain Anders Lee, who had played in 295 consecutive games, was sidelined indefinitely after injuring his right leg in Thursday night’s win over New Jersey. He leads New York with 12 goals. The streak was the third-longest in the Islanders’ history. Devils captain Nico Hischier missed his eighth straight game due to a concussion and a broken nose.
Game Notes:
- Islanders forward Josh Bailey left the ice temporarily in the second period after a diving Kuokkanen cut him in the face on his goal.
- Devils defenseman Dmitry Kulikov played in his 700th NHL game.
- New York’s Brock Nelson had his four-game goal streak snapped.
UP NEXT
- The Islanders and Devils will face off again at the Prudential Center late Sunday afternoon for their third consecutive matchup.
